The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Parallel translations
- WEB “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
- BSB A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
- NKJV “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
- NASB “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
- NLT “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. Followers of Christ should expect to share in His treatment.
Overview
Jesus draws on a common proverb to prepare His disciples for opposition: if the Master is persecuted, the servants will be too. Far from a complaint, this is a call to humble identification with Christ. To follow Him is to walk His path, including its suffering, as a privilege rather than an injustice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- John 15:20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
- Luke 6:40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
- John 13:16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
- Heb 12:2–4Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- 2 Sam 11:11And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.